Hydrogen sulphide may be a novel downstream signal molecule in nitric oxide‐induced heat tolerance of maize (Zea mays L.) seedlings

Abstract

Nitric oxide (NO) is a second messenger with multifunction that is involved in plant growth, development and the acquisition of stress tolerance. In recent years, hydrogen sulphide (H2S) has been found to have similar functions, but crosstalk between NO and H2S in the acquisition of heat tolerance is not clear. In this study, pretreatment with the NO donor sodium nitroprusside (SNP) improved the survival percentage of maize seedlings and alleviated an increase in electrolyte leakage and a decrease in tissue vitality as well as accumulation of malondialdehyde, indicating that pretreatment with SNP improved the heat tolerance of maize seedlings. In addition, pretreatment with SNP enhanced the activity of L-cystine desulfhydrase, which, in turn, induced accumulation of endogenous H2S, while application of H2S donors, NaHS and GYY4137, increased endogenous H2S content, followed by mitigating increase in electrolyte leakage and enhanced survival percentage of seedlings under heat stress. Interestingly, SNP-induced heat tolerance was enhanced by application of NaHS and GYY4137, but was eliminated by inhibitors of H2S synthesis DL-propargylglycine, aminooxyacetic acid, potassium pyruvate and hydroxylamine, and the H2S scavenger hypotaurine. All of the above-mentioned results suggest that SNP pretreatment could improve heat tolerance, and H2S may be a downstream signal molecule in NO-induced heat tolerance of maize seedlings.

Hydrogen Sulfide Generated byl-Cysteine Desulfhydrase Acts Upstream of Nitric Oxide to Modulate Abscisic Acid-Dependent Stomatal Closure

“…In plants, although originally associated with plant-pathogen interaction, it is now known to have an active role in diverse physiological processes such as oxidative stress, germination, and heat tolerance (Zhang et al, 2009a(Zhang et al, , 2009b(Zhang et al, , 2010a(Zhang et al, , 2010b(Zhang et al, , 2010dLi et al, 2013aLi et al, , 2013b. Recently, H 2 S has been proven to participate in ABA-or ethylene-induced stomatal closure in different plant species (García-Mata and Lamattina, 2010; Liu et al, 2011Liu et al, , 2012Jin et al, 2013).…”

Hydrogen Sulfide Regulates Inward-Rectifying K+ Channels in Conjunction with Stomatal Closure

“…Alternatively, H 2 S can be produced from D-Cys by D-Cys desulfhydrase (Riemenschneider et al, 2005a(Riemenschneider et al, , 2005b and in cyanide metabolism by b-cyano-Ala synthase . H 2 S action was originally related to pathogenesis resistance (Bloem et al, 2004), but in the last decade it has been proven to have an active role in signaling, participating in key physiological processes, such as germination and root organogenesis (Zhang et al, 2008(Zhang et al, , 2009a, heat stress (Li et al, 2013a(Li et al, , 2013b, osmotic stress (Zhang et al, 2009b), and stomatal movement (García-Mata and Lamattina, 2010;Lisjak et al, 2010Lisjak et al, , 2011Jin et al, 2013). Moreover, H 2 S was reported to participate in the signaling of plant hormones, including abscisic acid (ABA; García-Mata and Lamattina, 2010;Lisjak et al, 2010;Jin et al, 2013;Scuffi et al, 2014), ethylene (Hou et al, 2013), and auxin (Zhang et al, 2009a).…”

GYY4137, a Novel Water-Soluble, H2S-Releasing Molecule

“…In addition, GYY4137 administered 18 h after intra-articular injection of Complete Freund's Adjuvant (CFA) in the mouse reduced paw swelling but when administered 1 h before CFA, GYY4137 increased swelling suggesting that the effect of this donor in this animal model critically depends on the stage of the inflammation. This data implies that H 2 S exerts different (perhaps even opposite) effects on the inflammatory response (Li, Fox, et al, 154 Peter Rose et al 2013;Li, Yang, Long, Yang, & Shen, 2013). In a recent report, GYY4137 coadministered with histamine into mouse skin inhibited the accompanying pruritis but did not affect the extravasations response (Rodrigues et al, 2013) again suggesting differences in the response to GYY4137 in different systems.…”

“…In plants, exposure to high temperatures increases membrane fluidity and reduces membrane integrity, promotes protein denaturation, and reduces chloroplast and mitochondrial function leading to a state of oxidative and osmotic stress. In this regard, GYY4137 reduces the impact of heat stress and preserves the viability of Zea Mays (Li, Yang, et al, 2013). Moreover, preliminary data shows that GYY4137 induces expression of the cytoprotective amino acid proline in plant tissues following salt stress (Lisjak et al, 2013).…”